USATF Cross Country Nationals 2007

 Jordan Hasay (CA) runs away to win the Junior Women's XC title(Photo by Fred Finke)With the Simplot Games, USATF Cross Country Nationals and the Pepsi Classic all taking place this past weekend, it was easy to overlook a few performances that really shook up the high school track and field scene.  Read our Monday News & Notes section to find out the odds and ends of this past weekend.Monday News & Notes Highlights- Carolina Chick-Fil-A Inv.: Top Performances- University of Washington Weekend Highlights- USATF XC Nationals Wrap-Up/Pictures- Bob Gourley's Weight Throw Rankings- The Week Ahead: U. of Kentucky H.S. Inv.

USATF Cross Country Nationals took place Saturday in San Diego, California.  As expected in the junior women's race, Jordan Hasay (CA) won running away, defending her junior title won last year.  On the boys side, German Fernandez (CA) came away with a victory in a thrilling finish, kicking to the line for his first national title. The top six in each junior race qualify for the IAAF XC World Championships in Scotland and held in March.*Indicates H.S. Athlete Junior Women's World Qualifiers - Full Results1. *Jordan Hasay (Mission Prep, CA)2. Alex Gits (Stanford University)3. *Emily Reese (Chamblee, GA)4. Marissa Treece (U. of Notre Dame)5. Emily Schwitzer (Duke University)6. Lauren Saylor (U. of Washington)Junior Men's World Qualifiers - Full Results1. *German Fernandez (Riverbank, CA)2. Ryan Sheridan (Iona College)3. Emil Heineking (U. of Virginia)4. Bobby Moldovan (NC State University)5. *Kevin Williams (D'Evelyn, CO)6. *Ben Johnson (Albuquerque Academy, NM)

Photo Gallery courtesy of Fred Finke of the February 16 USATF Cross Country Championships, San Diego, CA

  Video of the DVGTCA and TFCAGP Meet of Champions 60 Dashes and Hurdles - plus DVGTCA Shot Put Photo Gallery by Don Rich of the February 16 TFCAGP Meet of Champions @ Lehigh University Photo Gallery by Don Rich of the February 15 DVGTCA Meet of Champions @ Lehigh University Photo: Terence Lee, Carver E&S, sat on the shoulder of Boyertown's Mark Dennin in the 3000, and kicked with 100 to go to win in a PA#3 8:47.93. Dennin was 2nd in 8:50.01. At the Pepsi Classic in New York, Khaliff Featherstone ran a US #2 time in the 400 meter dash with a winning time of 48.29. Montoursville hurdler Michael Keenan went a US#8 7.39 in the 55 hurdles, taking 2nd. Norristown boys rolled in the 800 relay with a 3rd place 1:30.77.  Abby Schaffer, Easton, cleared 12-6 to win the pole vault. Brooke Hamscher,  Whitehall, was 2nd, going over a PR 12-00. On Friday night at Lehigh University at the DVGTCA Meet of Champs, there were numerous PA#2 performances, including Council Rock South's Ije Iheoma running 25.07 to beat current PA#1 200m runner Shanae Bailey of Swenson. Conestoga's 12:30.64 DMR and Council Rock North's 9:25.33 were PA#2's, while Chester's 3:59.00 4x400 was PA#3. Ryann Krais leapt 18-06 to take over the top state spot in the long jump. Girls' High's Joelle Neilson went 37-06.25 in the triple jump for PA#2. And Conestoga's Whitney Winters ran 7.66 in the trials of the 60 dash for PA#2 (she won the finals, as well.) Germantown Friends' distance guys run well at NYRR's Thursday Night at the Races at the New York Armory. Germantown Friends took full advantage of the delicious distance offerings and savored some good times. Max Kaulbach posted a 9:14.1 2-mile, which converts to a PA#1 3000 of 8:34.1. Terence Lee, Engineering & Science, moved in the top five in the state with a mile of 4:19.9. Downingtown West's Austin Tobelmann went 2:00.4 in the 800. At the USATF Cross Country Championships in San Diego on Saturday, former PA high school and college starts James Carney, (Millersville); Dan Mazzacco, Penn State/Baldwin; Ryan Sheehan, Saint Francis/Baldwin; and Maureen McCandless, Pitt/Nazareth Academy, compete in the Open races.  

2006 Kentucky AAA State Cross Country Champion Brian Long (St. Xavier) now a freshmen at Villanova University will run in the USATF XC Junior Nationals this Saturday in San Diego, California.